by Alexander O. Onukwue

These are the numbers everybody is talking about.

American rapper, Jay-Z, released ‘4:44’, his thirteenth studio album, and it is already being hailed as one of the greatest of all time.

It comes the year after his wife poured her heart out on the strains of their relationship as impacted by Jay-Z’s infidelity towards her. In the title-track ‘4:44’ and the rest of the album, the 21-time Grammy Award winner portrays a reflection of a man who has seen the world from a different light, bearing down on himself but also drawing on his experiences to teach lessons to his community.

4:44 has more than 44 lessons, but we are just going to stick with the four that you should not fail to fall back on:

“A loss ain’t a loss it’s a lesson, appreciate the pain it’s a blessing”

Where there is no pain, there can be no gain, and what does not kill you only makes you stronger.

“Put 150 in her account every two weeks, for her nails and feet”

Not because you can afford it or that she needs it, but because the letter ‘L’ in the word Love really stands for little things that seem not to matter. ‘Her’ could be family, friends or anyone you claim matters to you. Don’t wait till grand celebrations to do momentous stuff; do regular little things.

“You want to know what’s more important than throwin’ away money at a strip club? Credit”

Jay-Z was really talking to Hushpuppi here, but also to all other folks who live for the show. Financial literacy is important, and if you are ever going to be something, you are going to have to start saving something. Take that to the bank.

“I don’t post no threats on the internet, I just pose a threat”

In other words, if you don’t have your work speaking for you, why do you waste time on Twitter and Instagram doing subs and clap-backs? Get off that screen and get to work.

(Words of the Lyrics from Complex.com)